Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday Education Secretary Michael Gove gave robust response to Andrew Slaughter's dishonest claims that Hammersmith and Fulham Council was closing Sure Start Centres.
He said:
We were told by the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) that we would see a reduction in the number of children's centres in Hammersmith and Fulham, but actually, as the right hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) almost acknowledged, not only are all the existing Sure Start children's centres being protected but a new one is being built. There is an increase in the number of Sure Start children's centres in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Then he continued:
The consequence of the Government's actions is that we have ensured, as both Anne Longfield and Anand Shukla have pointed out, that there is enough money to maintain that network. In addition,
under Conservative leadership, Hammersmith and Fulham has been singularly successful in reducing the council tax burden on its ratepayers, and in diversifying the sources of funding it receives to support education and care for children and young people. It is a superb local authority. Instead of continually talking down the service that is provided by public servants in Hammersmith and Fulham, it would be nice to hear from the hon. Gentleman some sunny, uplifting words, rather than grim predictions of disaster, which, as we have just heard, turn out never to be true.
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